Andrew Dikken enters petition to plead guilty

Andrew Joseph Dikken has petitioned to enter a guilty plea on two counts of second-degree murder, according to a motion filed at the Yellow Medicine County Courthouse Oct. 16.

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By Scott TedrickGranite Falls Advocate-Tribune

Redwood Falls Gazette

By Scott TedrickGranite Falls Advocate-Tribune

Posted Oct. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Scott TedrickGranite Falls Advocate-Tribune

Posted Oct. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Andrew Joseph Dikken has petitioned to enter a guilty plea on two counts of second-degree murder, according to a motion filed at the Yellow Medicine County Courthouse Oct. 16.

Dikken, 28, of Ren-ville, is charged with two counts of second-de-gree murder for the Sept. 2 shootings of Kara Monson, 26, of Granite Falls, and Chris Panitzke, 28, of Red-wood Falls.

Each second-degree murder count carries a maximum possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison.

According to a complaint report, Panitzke told police officers Dikken gained entry to the Monson household, turned on a light and opened fire on the pair as they lay sleeping. Monson died at the scene, while Panitzke passed several days later – Sept. 8.

Dikken remains in custody at the Yellow Medicine County Jail where he is being held on $3 million bail.

According to the petition, the minimum jail sentence the court must impose on Dikken is 632 months or 52-and-a-half years imprisonment.

The sentence, as per judicial protocol, must be served consecutively, 306 months on the first conviction and 326 on the second.

Dikken would have to spend a minimum of 35 years behind bars, even if he were able to reduce his prison time by one-third through good behavior, according to the West Central Tribune.

As a result, Dikken would not be eligible for release under a supervised probation program until the age of 63.

The petition also states the prosecution is unwilling to discuss a reduced sentence in exchange for Dikken’s guilty plea. There has also been no indication as to whether the prosecution would seek to convene a grand jury, which would be required to bring about first-degree murder indictment and subsequent life sentence. A plea hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 8:15 a.m. at the Yellow Medicine County Courthouse.